From Our Correspondent
Agartala: The repatriation of Bru refugees to their homeland could not resume after inmates of Hamsapara refugee camp in Kanchanpur subdivision declined to return to Mizoram.
The fourth phase of Bru refugee repatriation was scheduled to begin on Thursday as per the decision taken all concerned parties.
In accordance with the decision, an official of Mizoram government came to Hamsapara refugee camp to take 147 members of 141 families back to home-Mizoram. Sources said, the refugees declined to return to their home on the ground that their demands were not fulfilled yet.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in his visit to refugee camp on March 18 had assured all possible help to the refugee leaders after return of their homeland. As part of follow up action, the Union Home Minister had also paid a visit to Aizwal and held meeting with state government officials to expedite the repatriation process.
With today’s development, the repatriation of Reang refugees suffered serious jolt and now the programme for early return of refugees will have to be rescheduled.
As per the plan, over one thousand Reang refugee families are scheduled to return to home in phases till May 16.
Leaders of various NGOs, churches and religious organizations in a joint meeting held at Naisingpara camp in Kanchanpur, North district , under the chairmanship of A Sawibunga, president of Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) recently and discussed various issues confronting the refugees sheltered in seven relief camps.
After threadbare discussion, it was decided that the compensation amount of Rs 1.5 lakh should be provided to the Bru returnee which is equivalent to the compensation of the 83 Mizo families recently granted by the Central Government.